He had been forced, finally, to give up and go away.

News from him the day before had been anything but reassuring, and to-day, Bertram being gone, Billy had suggested that Eliza serve a simple luncheon and go immediately afterward to South Boston to see how her uncle was.

This suggestion Eliza had followed, leaving the house at one o'clock.
Shortly after two Calderwell had dropped in to bring Bertram, as he expressed it, a bunch of bouquets he had gathered at the picture show the night before.

He was still in the drawing-room, chatting with Billy, when the telephone bell rang.
"If that's Bertram, tell him to come home; he's got company," laughed Calderwell, as Billy passed into the hall.
A moment later he heard Billy give a startled cry, followed by a few broken words at short intervals.

Then, before he could surmise what had happened, she was back in the drawing-room again, her eyes full of tears.
"It's Pete," she choked.